Net and gross weigher



April 1944- E. w. VREDENBURG 2,346,882

NET AND GROSS WEIGHER Filed Feb. 24, 1941 :s Shets-Sheet 1 Qua I fl g I m m H Ks E [L v W T/ 2 f'lC re 9/7 U/"g My 4- N x P BY 6 D ATTORNEY April 18, 1944. E. w. VREDENBURG NET AND GROSS WEIGHER Filed Feb. 24, 1941 3 sheets sheet 2 g mm Q m mH INVENTOR [dr/c 14 Vreaenburg ATTORNEY April 18, 1944.

E. w. VR EDENBURG NET AND GROSS WEIGHER Filed Feb 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAZZWIIIAVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII HH- -W m-H-EP g g S g a s 3 Q FIB S Patented Apr. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- mar AND eaoss wnrcnaa I mm W. Vredenburg, Oakland, can. Application February 24,1941, Serial No. sso,171

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a net and gross weigher, particularly one designed for rapid measuring out of selected weights of bulk materials such as dry peas, beans, corn meal, salt, sugar, candy and other like commodities to be weighed out, either in net or gross batches. The weigher of the present invention is simple, rugged and rapid in operation. It 'can be adjusted readily to measure out a batch on either a net or a gross weight and it can be adjusted to weigh various weights readily. Further, it is so fashioned that it is relatively fool-proof and requires a minimum of attention for its emcient operation. 7

While many free flowing materials can be fed by gravity, in the handling of some bulk materials difliculty' is encountered in maintaining a flow of the material from a supply thereof during weighing oi the material as a batch; thisis particularly so with the handling of small batches of some materials. The weighing mechanism of this invention involves 'a combined gravity feedvibrator feed. on free flowing material gravity alone can be employed while on others the two are employed together; The construction is such that bulk materials may be readily weighed out even though the flow thereof from a supply is an intermittent one and even though the quantity weighed is relatively small.

In the weighing of material it is, of course, usual to have the bulk feed followed by a dribble feed to the end that the final weight be accurately attained and underweight avoided. The weighing mechanism of the present invention involves a novel, bulk feed-dribble feed control mechanism. It is in general the object of this invention to provide a weighing mechanism in which the supply of material from a bulk source is maintained in such amanner that small batches may be quickly and yet accurately apportioned and weighed.

In addition to the foregoing, the invention has.

other novel and valuable objects and features of advantage/some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred form or ,weigher embodying the of the mechanism.

Figure 4; is a vertical section .taken through the weigher mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are sections taken lines 5-5 and 8- in Figure 4.

Figure 'I is a side elevatiompartly in' section, through the solenoid box while Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure '7 and showing the control of the hopper closure mechanism. I

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section through the switch control box while Figure 10 is a section taken along'the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9.

' The frame The machine of the present invention includes a suitable frame generally indicated at H and made up of suitable angle iron members 12 and other structural elements as well as sheet metal elements 13 providing suitable sides, a top and a back.

The weighing mechanism The weighing mechanism includes pivot blocks l6 suitably secured on opposite sides of the frame H and engaged by pivots l1 vcarried upon the U- weighing framemember l8 shown in plan in Figure 6. A counter-balance and weight support I! is mounted at one endof the weighing frame, as

appears in Figures 4 and 6; this support carries a f suitable platform 2,! toreceive auxiliary weights. This platform is ordinarily movable onthe support l9 so that, in conjunction. with nuts 22 the degree of movement of the weighingframe can mounted betweenit and an extensionzt on the;

frame ll. The dashpot' is such that it prevents extreme fluctuationsof the weighing frame in either direction but'does not interfere with'accurate weighing." As is well known, the dashpot includes a chamber containing a fluid as kerosene. This is forced'to flow from one side of a piston to the other through a controllable orifice whereby the rate of. travel of thepiston under a given force is varied; By varyingthe dashpot ad-' iustment, one can increase or decrease the dribble by permitting the beam'to move fast or slow, parv ticularly during that period ,just prior to the I dribble feed bein'gcut 01!.

form is slidably mounted on .a member 33 which depends from the weighing frameand is guided at its lower endby link 34.

The position of the weighing platform i: be

along the A suitable discharge hopper or funnel 3| is carried by theweighing frame as well as. packager support means 32 shownasa platform. The platmember 33 can be readily adjusted by means of lever 36. This has an eccentric 31 (see Figure 3) thereon engaging the member 33 and releasably clamping the member between the eccentric 31 and one of the two straps 36 which support the platform movably on the frame 33. The weighing frame and the platform are locked in position when a package is removed therefrom by engaging finger 4| with a rod 42 (Figure 4) projecting from member 33. The finger is mounted on a shaft 43 carried in theframe and rotated by lever 44 (Fig ure 1), which can be operated by hand or by a foot pedal (not shown).

In place of the funnel 3| one can employ instead the batch receiving and retaining member shown at in my copending application Serial Number 296,579 filed September 26, 1939, now Patent No. 2,314,299. or a like structure, such structures being generally known in the prior art.

On one side of the weighing frame (Figure 2) is mounted a lever arm 46 carrying thereon an adjustable weight 41. These are employed to tare the weight of a receptacle placed on the platform 32, for example, if the device be employed as a net weigher or to otherwise adjust the weight to which the frame is responsive in its movement. Also, on this side of the weighing frame is an indicator arm 48. This is employed in checking the scale for balance and, if desired, in checking each batch weighed in conjunction with a fixed mark provided on the side of the machine adjacent to the end of the arm. The end of the arm 48 is preferably fashioned with a weighted head thereon. This head causes the arm to act as a pendulum and so increase the sensitiveness of the weighing mechanism.

- The feed Mounted at the top of the frame l2 and extending therefrom to a source of bulk supply is a suitable conduit 5i discharging into a hopper 52. This hopper is supported by spring strips 53 at opposite ends thereof from a heavy, cast and is not transmitted to any appreciable degree to the frame II or to the support for the weighing mechanism. The frame 54 is made relatively heavy in mass so that an electrical vibrating mechanism 61 supported thereon is efiective in cooperating with the hopper frame 54 and vibrating the hopper together with material therein.

The hopper discharge control It is to be noted that the hopper includes a vertical side 62 and another-side 63 which extends vertically and then inwardly toward side 62 and toward a discharge opening 64; adjacent discharge opening 64 wall 63 includes a lip 66 over which the material passes.

A discharge control element indicated generally at 61 is mounted upon stub shafts 69 which extend inwardly from frame H to support the discharge control element independently of the hopper (Figs. 5 and 8). The discharge control element is ordinarily movable between an open and a closed position; in the open position the element 61 is moved away from lip 66 and only partially covers opening 64 and free discharge from the hopper is permitted while in the closed position the element 61 is against lip 66 and discharge is entirely restricted. This construction, in conjunction with the vibration of only the hopper, is particularly effective in the handling of semi-free flowing or lumpy bulk materials; with the closure element in open position and with the hopper alone vibrated, material positioned between the discharge control element 61 and the lip 66 is vibrated very effectively between a stationary member and a vibrating member whereby lumps or granules of material which would otherwise interfere with free flow to the discharge opening 64 are broken up and pass on freely.

' Discharge control The stub shafts 69 supporting the closure element 6'! are carried in suitable bearings ll mounted upon the side of the machine. -Upon one stub shaft (Figure 8) is mounted a bell crank I: normally biased in a. counterclockwise direction in Figure 7 by a spring 13 mounted upon an extending stationary pin 14 supported on the frame of the machine. One end of the bell crank is mounted upon the stub shaft while the other end is engaged with a lever 16 intermediate the ends thereof. To adjacent opposite ends of the lever links 18 and 19 are secured. These are respectively attached to solenoid plungers BI and 82 associated with a first solenoid coil 83 and a second solenoid coil 84 mounted in a closure 85 upon the side frame of the machine. Normally, lever 16 is supported between pin 14 and adjustable stop 66 secured to the side of the frame H. As will presently appear, under the control of the weighing mechanism the first solenoid coil 83 is energized simultaneously with the second solenoid coil 84 whereby plungers 18 and 19 are raised simultaneously. This is effective to rock the bell crank 12 clockwise in Figure 7 whereby the hopper closure element 61 is rocked clockwise in Figure 4 and bulk,material in the hopper can discharge. As will also presently appear, the vibrating element 6| is energized simultaneously with solenoid coil 63.

The weighing frame rocks about its pivot upon discharge of material into a suitably positioned bag or receptacle thereon; this is effective, as will presently appear, to cause the second solenoid coil 84 to be deenergized whereby its plunger 82 dropsand lever 16 engages thestop 86. This closes partially the closure element 61 and the feed from the hopper is decreased to a lesser rate,

the dribble feed. The size of the opening between the closure element and the lip 66, that through which the dribble passes, is controlled by the adjustable stop 86.

When the weighing frame has approached and is in that position corresponding to the weight for which it is adjusted, the energization of the vibrating mechanism and the first solenoid 63 is discontinued and the first plunger 8| is permitted to drop and the closure element is moved into closed position. The foregoing operation will be further described in conjunction with the following mechanism. of course, in place of solenoids and electrical vibrating mechanisms, other mechanisms can be used to effect vibration and movement of the plungers. However, I prefer to employ the electrical means described, particularly because of the by assured.

quick, accurate control there- Vibrator and discharge control mechanism In accordance with this invention I mount a plate IN on the side of the weighing frame as appears in Figures 1 and 9. This plate is employed as a control element, extending horizontally from the weighing frame over a first beam I02 and a second beam I03. 'I'hese beams are respectively supported upon pivots Ill and I carried by a suitable support structure 606 on the side frame of the machine. Each beam re- .spectively carries an adjustable counter-weight I01 an I08 thereon. Beam I02 is engaged by a screw I09 which is locked in position with a lock nut III so that the movement of the beam I02 can be coordinated with that of the weighing frame. A screw I I2 and a lock nut I I3 serve the same function with respect to beam I03. Suitably supported on the sides of the machine and positioned with their operating elements extending downwardly are Micro-switches Ill and II 5 respectively operated by beams I02 and I03. The construction of these switches is that of the wellknown structure sold under this trade name and more particularly described in Patent No. 1,960,020 issued May 22, 1934. As is well known, each Micro-switch includes an operating element extending therefrom (elements H6 and II! in switches II 4 and H5) which element is movable over a very short distance, against the opposition of a spring therein, to open a circuit. Switch II! is placed with its operating element spaced from the associated pivot I05 for the beam i0! for some distance. Thus, a relatively small movement in the weighing frame is permissible before beam I03 is effective to move element II'I inwardly and open the circuit through the switch. Switch II! ordinarily controls the closing of the pp r discharge control element 61 to provide a dribble feed.

It is to be noted that switch control element II! is placed relatively close to pivot IIll so that comparatively beam I02 can swing through a very large path before the switch is opened. The switch is thus able to control the ilnal dribble feed as well as the vibrator. A stop H0 is provided to engage the counter-weight I01 and restrict the downward movement of the counterweight and thus prevent too much pressure from being placed upon the spring in the switch ill.

The circuit Power is ordinarily supplied to the device through power lines I2 I and 122. A control switch I23 is provided on the side of the enclosure I2l (Figures 1 and 9) and power lead I22 is ordinarily connected to one side of the switch while power lead I2I is connected to terminal I26 on switch I and terminal I21 on switch Ill. The other side 0! switch I2! is connected by line I I0 to coil I29 in the electrical vibrator ll, the other side of the coil being connected by line I80 to terminal III on switch Ill. The other side of switch I22 is also connected to a line III which extends to the terminals Ill and Ill in solenoids I8 and ll respectively. Terminal Ill on switch I is connected by line I81 to terminal Ill in solenoid 82 while terminal I in switch III is connected by line Ill to terminal Ill in solenoid il. Switch I is thus eifective to control the position, a first energization of the vibrator coil when it is in a closed position as well as the energizatlon of solenoid 83 while switch II! is efiectlve to control the energization of solenoid ll.

As the weighing frame is loaded with a batch of materials, the switches are successively opened, first to close the hopper discharge partially and provide a suitable dribble feed and second, to discontinue the vibration and close the hopper discharge, the closing of the hopper discharge and cessation of vibration being effected simultaneously.

The switch structure disclosed is particularly advantageous because with the first beam I02 and the second beam I03 supported upon the sharp knife-edge pivots IM and I05, each beam protects its pivot support from dust or collection of other foreign matter which might clog or tend to increase the resistance to operation of the beam. As a result, the weighing operation is unaffected over relatively long periods of time and little attention need be paid to the welgher.

The size of the counter-weights and their position on the beams depends on the relative position of the supporting pivots I and I0! for the beams I02 and I03, the distance of the switch elements H6 and Ill from the pivots and point whereat the moving force is applied to each beam. Those skilled in the art may make suitable modiflcations therein to the end that the required operating pressure for the switches be kept to a very small value. Normally the commercial Micro-switch requires about fourteen ounces of pressure to open the normally closed switches. By employing the counter-weights, this pressure is largely oilset so that the pressure required from the weighing mechanism is very slight. with tree flowing materials the vibrating mechanism and its control can, of course, be omitted.

I claim:

In a device of the character described, a hopper for receiving material and for feeding material through an outlet therefrom to a container positioned to receive a batch of material, electrical means for vibrating said hopper to move material out of said hopper. a gate cooperating with said hopper outlet and movable with respect to said hopper outlet to provide (1) a first discharge opening from said hopper throulh which material can pass to said container at a first rate, (2) a second discharge opening from said hopper of a size les than said first opening through which material can pass to said container at a second rate and which is less than first rate, and (3) a closure for said hopper outlet cutting 01! all material flow therefrom, a first solenoid effective upon energization to move said gate from hopper closed position to said second discharge position, a second solenoid eflectlve upon energizatlon concurrently with said first solenoid to move said gate to said first discharge Micro-switch eilective to control simultaneous energlzation of said vibrator means and said first solenoid, and a second Micro-switch eilective to control ener'gizatlon of said second solenoid.

EDRIG W. VREDENBURG. 

